SPURS-MUFC PREVIEW...AVB on the brink of getting fired after a dismal run in the League

                                                      

Andre Villas-Boas' position as manager of the lilywhites is under severe threat after his expensively assembled side were annihilated at the Etihad last weekend. The 6-0 bashing didn't go down well with the Spurs hierarchy and even though the Portuguese tactician has come out publicly to rubbish reports of his impending sack, he'll know better than to take the Daniel Levy led Board for granted.

Today's opponents, Manchester United have not last at the Lane since 2001 and Spurs will have memories of great comeback wins home and away in the last twelve years. The red army posted their best performance of the season away in Germany in midweek when they ran out 5-0 winners at the BayArena v Sami Hyypia's Leverkusen. It was a masterclass display delivered on a night when it was needed most. Wayne Rooney, Shinji Kagawa and Ryan Giggs at the very top of their game in the encounter. Nevertheless, the defending Champions will have to get back to winning ways in the League after being pegged back by Cardiff last time out in a match they should have won. No time for slip-ups anymore with Arsenal in great form and ten points ahead going into this all important cracker.

Tottenham relieved themselves of some of the pressure piled on them domestically, when on Thursday, they visited  recently relegated Tromso. The 2-0 scoreline was deserved but a little flattering considering the level the opposition are in at the moment. An own goal coupled with a Moussa Dembele composed finish ensured that Spurs kept their perfect record in the competition. It was a good victory which should give them some confidence coming into this game. Well, the game had some drama as during proceedings, a Norwegian Manchester United fan, Reidar Stenersen was seen and heard taunting the Spurs manager with chants of 'You will be sacked in the morning'. It got to a head when AVB reported the matter to the UEFA Inspector who in turn instructed the security to remove the said fan from behind the Spurs bench. It was immediately obvious that Mr Stenersen, who declined to watch the match from the game from any other seat, got under the beleaguered AVB's skin. It might be ridiculous from any other person's point of view, but apart from being a coach, he is also a human being. Thin skin or thick skin, it is a matter of opinion and human nature.

Manchester United will like to get one over Villas Boas especially. He took four points from the red army last season including a first win for Spurs at Old Trafford for more than twenty years. A victory sealed by the now departed Clint Dempsey who now wears the colours of Seattle Sounders in the MLS. Anything less than three points today means that chances of retaining the EPL crown will become extremely slim. David Moyes has done well in all other competitions asides the League. Although his side is unbeaten since falling to West Brom in September, draws v Cardiff and Soton have hampered the team's chance to at least be in the top four on the League table. Victory today will not guarantee that but will at least cut the deficit to seven points.

Today's game pitches two under pressure managers against one another. Yes, they are both under pressure even if one's seems to be more than the other's. Let's hope for a great show


PREDICTED LINEUPS-

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR-

Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Chiriches, Vertonghen, Sandro, Dembele, Paulinho, Lennon, Lamela, Soldado

For Spurs, AVB continues to remain adamant that the RS9 brand will come out sparkling with time and patience. The Spanish acquisition has failed to live up to his reputation and price tag since he stepped foot on the White Hart Lane turf. Apart from rare glimpses of the talent he showed mainly at the Mestalla, he has fallen way below expectations. However, his manager still retains a lot of confidence in him and is set to field him from the start yet again. Jermaine Defoe who is exceptionally gifted and finds the net regularly, will remain on the bench in one of the most bizarre situations ever witnessed. Younnes Kaboul was like a lost sheep last weekend as Negredo, Aguero, Navas and Nasri ran rings around him with relative ease. Vlad Chirciches though untested, came in highly recommended and should prove an able partner in defence for the ever dependable Michael Dawson. The Spurs skipper was demolished in Manchester and wouldn't want another Manchester side to get the better of him again. Paulinho was very poor in midfield v Yaya Toure and Fernandinho. He has to improve considerably and try to dominate a midfield bereft of the injured Micheal Carrick.


MANCHESTER UNITED

DDG, Smalling, Evans, Vidic, Evra, Jones, Cleverley/Fellaini, Kagawa, Valencia, Roo-RVP

Moyes faces a tricky selection headache coming into this game. The likes of Nani and Shinji Kagawa are pushing for starting spots after the victory in Germany. The imminent returns of Captain Nemanja Vidic and Dutch master, Robin Van Persie should see them named in the starting eleven barring any last minute decisions. Rio Ferdinand has done his best years and form/fitness haven't be fair on him lately. The Englishman was partly at fault for Cardiff's equaliser and almost let Stefan KeiSling in on goal on Wednesday but for a fantastic Jonny Evans tackle. The overrated TC23 might feature in the absence of the very reliable Michael Carrick, Belgian giant, Marouane Fellaini has done nothing to justify his huge price tag since he arrived. Clumsy and very insipid performances are becoming increasingly worrisome. Phil Jones kept the entire Arsenal front line quiet quite remarkably a few weeks ago. Something that hasn't been achieved by many this season. The much improved England International has done exceptionally well in every position he has played this season. Alongside Ryan Giggs, he made Simon Rolfes and Lars Bender look like toddlers on Wednesday. The bionic Ryan Giggs turned 40 on Friday and will become only the 7th man to be involved in a top light game after clocking 40 if he plays any part today. On the basis of his fantastic display in midweek, he should start.....but age is not on his side and another 90 minutes might be asking for too much. Needless to say, Wayne Rooney has been the leading light in the red army camp this season. Six League goals might not be enough to prove the statement right, but his all round showings have left many bewildered and very impressed. But for Ozil's classic game at Cardiff, Wazza would have been top of the assists table with 5 (StevieG and Mirallas have as many). If he comes to the Lane with his A game, nothing else matters. A win will definitely be the end result for the red devils. Michael Carrick is still out and has been sorely missed. United's best midfielder by a country mile will miss the game against his former club because of an Achilles problem. Without him, the centre of the pitch was like a see saw for MUFC  at Cardiff but inexplicably, against the more fancied Bayer, it thrived like never before. With Paulinho, Sandro and Dembele ready to dominate, it will be an uphill task for anyone Moyes chooses to replace Carrick.


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PORTUGAL SEEK TO REACH BRAZIL AT THE 2ND TIME OF ASKING...AFTER STUTTERING IN QUALIFICATION............

                                         

RACE TO BRAZIL 2014 GOES DOWN THE WIRE WITH PORTUGAL HOSTING SWEDEN IN A SUPERSTAR MATCH-UP

La Seleccion host Erik Hamren’s Sweden in a must win 1^st leg affair for the right to be one of the 32 participating teams in next year’s much anticipated Football festival in Brazil. Paolo Bento knows there’s no room for errors like the one Rui Patricio handed out in the last qualifying match. Victory against the Scandinavian giants will set the tone for a comfortable night next week.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been one of the World’s great players in the last decade. The towering attacking jewel of Paris almost carried Sweden single-handedly in the just concluded qualifying campaign. They were of course in a much tougher group than opponents, Portugal. This two legged fixture pitches him against one of football’s finest ever footballers and the best player in the World since August, Cristiano Ronaldo. After the battles have been fought, unfortunately, one of the two biggest gladiators of our time will not make it to South America. The stakes couldn’t be higher.

The in-form team coming into this fixture is undoubtedly Sweden. The yellow army have won 4 of their last 5 matches losing only to Germany in an 8 goal thriller, a carbon copy of the miraculous comeback from 4-0 down last time in Germany. This time around, DIE NATIONALELF edged this 5-3. Portugal on the other hand, has won only 2 of its last 5 games. Anything but a resounding performance on Friday will signal the end of any World Cup ambitions they have harboured.

The two front liners of this mouthwatering game have scored 39 goals between them in club duties this season and we are still only in November. Cristiano Ronaldo has been head and shoulders above all the footballers on the planet with hat-tricks in every competition he has been involved in. 16 La Liga goals in just 11 matches played, 8 goals in 4 CL games have been the highlights of his impressive start to the season. Ibra is not far behind. His four goal haul in Belgium is one of the best individual performances ever witnessed. Anderlecht were the unlucky recipients of such an unreal masterclass display.

All will be put to bare on Friday in Lisbon when two of Europe’s finest nations lurk horns. For all that may be said, for all that is expected, there can be only one outcome. Only ONE of the two great nations can compete in Brazil next year and terribly, either CR7 or Ibra will not be able to showcase his qualities come 2014. The wait is killing us all.

PREDICTED LINEUPS-

PORTUGAL-

Patricio, Pereira, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Coentrao, M.Veloso, Moutinho, Josue, CR7, Nani, Postiga.

Ronaldo on 43 goals is just 4 away from equally PAULETA’s record of 47 for the Selecao. He hasn’t trained yet, but will feature on Friday or Bento’s doomed.

SWEDEN-

Isaakson, Lustig, Nilson, Antonsson, Olsson, EKdal, Durmaz, Wembloom, Larsson, Elmander, Ibrahimovic

If Anders Svensson enters the fray or gets a starting berth on Friday, he will extend his appearance record for Sweden. The Saints and Swedish football Legend has amassed a ground breaking 146 caps for the yellow army in 14 years as a professional. His set piece and passing abilities haven’t waned. Class is permanent.

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MANCHESTER UNITED-STOKE CITY PREVIEW.....No more slip-ups for the defending champions, else they forget about the EPL title.

                                                      

MANCHESTER UNITED-STOKE CITY PREVIEW….No margin for error(s) anymore for the defending champions

Fresh from grinding out a 1-0 victory over Basque opponents, Real Sociedad in midweek, Manchester United face a third successive home game in all competitions later this afternoon against a Stoke side short of ideas especially in front of goal. Managed by a United Legend, the Potters have not had the best of times in the League so far, only earning a draw because Stephane Sessegnon left his brain at the midlands and Howard Webb was either lenient or plain stupid not to give a penalty for the obvious infringement on Mulumbu at the Britannia

In the build up to this game, the Sir Alex Ferguson book with startling revelations about former and current players, has dominated the headlines. However, it will have very little to do with how things turn out after 90 minutes. Mark Hughes has also said that since the great man’s retirement, the red army has looked very vulnerable and his Stoke side are prepared to capitalise on any slip-ups like Southampton and West Brom before them, did in the last three weeks. It hasn’t been the best of times for David Moyes. His substitutions have been disappointing too.

United seek an 11^th consecutive home win over Stoke and will have the record books firmly in their favour. The last time the potters won at Old Trafford was 37 years ago. That will affect them somehow, but if they borrow a leaf from their last opponents (West Brom), things might be very different. The baggies ended a 30-something year wait for victory at OT a few weeks and they did it in spectacular style…aided by the amateurish defending of Rio Ferdinand who has unsurprisingly been excluded from recent lineups. They say he’s injured. Yeah right.

Inigo Martinez was the reason why we beat La Real on Wednesday. Despite vast improvements in the performance, the 3 time European Champions could not find a way past Bravo. Chances were wasted and it could have been a different story if Carlos Vela and co didn’t leave their scoring books in faraway Spain. Wayne Rooney and Shinji Kagawa were excellent and Ryan Giggs played like he was a hungry teenager looking for a starting spot in a team of seasoned professionals. With the way the Welsh legend played on Wednesday, no one would have realised that he turns 40 in a little more than a month.

PROBABLE LINEUPS-

MANCHESTER UNITED-

DDG, Rafa, Jones, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Fellaini, Januzaj, Kagawa/Nani, Rooney, RVP

In the continued absence of first choice defensive partnership (Rio and Vidic), Phil Jones and Northern Irishman, Jonny Evans will play their third consecutive game together in central defence. They have conceded just one goal in two games and should be comfortable this afternoon, barring any monumental collapse. The return of RvP should boost the entire squad. The Dutch all time highest goal scorer missed the Champions League game in midweek, but is set to partner United’s most in-form player, Wayne Rooney, in attack. Welbeck and Cleverley may also sit out this one as they are struggling with injuries and form. The Japanese Samurai should retain his place in the starting eleven after an inspired performance last time and Belgian teenage sensation, Adnan, has a role to play.

STOKE-

Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters, Walters, Adams, Nzonzi, Aissadi, Ireland, Crouch

Asmir Begovic is one of the top goalkeepers in the League. The Bosnian helped his national side secure automatic qualification to their first ever World Cup two weeks ago and has seen his reputation rise to new heights since he made his League bow. Touted to become one of the all-time goalkeeping greats, he can make life difficult for the famed United R&R front line. Ryan Shawcross was at United sometime ago and has been linked to them in the past because of his good showings. Alongside Robert Huth, they have been one of the better defensive pairings in the League for some years now. Peter Crouch knows all about United and Jon Walters still carries the hopes of the team. He shouldn’t be allowed to take penalties anymore though.

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REAL MADRID-JUVENTUS PREVIEW

REAL MADRID-JUVENTUS PREVIEW….LOS MERENGUES LOOK SET TO QUALIFY FOR THE KNOCKOUT ROUNDS WITH THREE GAMES TO SPARE

Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid continue the club’s pursuit of La Decima tonight at the Santiago Bernabeu. An ambition that has grown taller since Vicente Del Bosque led the whites to Title no 9 eleven years ago. Since then, it had been difficult to even reach the quarter-finals until a certain Portuguese master came along and took them to three straight semi-final appearances, only to be stopped by Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund-all Bs and former European Champions. The club is saddled with the burden of delivering a record 10^th European cup and fans have waited so long for this to happen. No less than ten managers have tried since the departure of VDB. None has even reached the Championship match.

In Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid possess one of the best managers in the history of the game. He has won the Champions League as a player and a manager and also reached the final-All with Silvio Berlusconi’s AC MILAN. Last time out, his PSG team gave a good account of themselves in the competition…only exiting on away goals to almighty Barcelona who later collected a spanking from eventual winners, Bayern Munich. The Italian has done well since he started work at the Capital and bar a painful defeat at home to Atletico, his team have given a good account of themselves. Some might point out to matches v Elche, Levante and others also. The 32 time La liga Champions sit third in the League three points behind leaders, Barcelona and one behind 2^nd placed Atletico Madrid.

Tonight’s visitors are Antonio Conte’s Juventus. The Old Lady of Italian football got stung by Beppe Rossi on Sunday at the Artenio Franchi in Florence. The former Villareal marksman scored the first hat-trick of his tupsy turvy career v the defending Serie A Champions in a match they had no right to win after going two goals down. Another Spaniard, Joaquin Sanchez added a well taken goal to further dent the Turin giants pride. The Italians were beaten by Real in the Champions League final fifteen years ago and matches between them have been exciting and keenly contested. Former Captain, Alex Del Piero had one of the finest nights of his Legendary career here at the Bernabeu..so there’s no reason why Carlos Tevez cannot do the same with the same iconic NO 10 jersey.

Juventus have only two points from two games played and face elimination if they don’t at least take three points from the double header v Los Blancos. Roberto Mancini’s Gala have Copenhagen to play over two legs and if they win both, trouble looms for the Bianconeri. Paul Pogba has been bullish in the build-up to this game. Confidence is sky high in the Italians camp that they can spring a surprise or two in Spain and finish the job off in Italy. This is by far Conte’s toughest test as manager of the Turin based outfit.

Los Merengues saw off Schuster’s Malaga at the weekend despite Willy Caballero’s heroics but it is the drop in form of Isco that is a source of concern to Carlo and Zizou. The ex-Malaga playmaker had everyone on their feet at the beginning of the season. Now, he seems to have lost that spark. No better time to regain it than tonight. While Isco Alarcon has been dwindling, Angel Di Maria has been soaring. The Argentine wing wizard is now an ever present in Ancelotti’s starting eleven. His performance v the Danes in Matchday two is one of the best individual displays ever witnessed in the Champions League. The peak of the show was his amazing rabona assist for Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2^nd goal that night. His place is secure even with the return of Bale. The whites go into today’s encounter knowing they can seal qualification with a win and results go their way in the other match. It will be something great as there are three more matchdays to play.

PREDICTED LINEUPS-

REAL MADRID-

Iker, Arbeloa, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, ILLARRA, SAMI K, ISCO, CR7, BENZEMA, DI MARIA

JUVENTUS-

Buffon, Padoin, Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Tevez, Marchisio, Llorente

San Iker is set to replace Diego Lopez between the sticks tonight with Varane set to come in for Pepe. Ancelotti will know more than to under estimate his former employers. The midfield should be fine against the likes of Pirlo and Arturo Vidal who was left out of the starting eleven at Fiorentina for arriving late from international duty. The Chilean should be re-instated into the starting line-up. Upfront, the Tevez-Llorente partnership is showing signs of cliquing. Conte can change either of them (The latter most likely) for the diminutive Giovinco otherwise known as the ‘Atomic ant’.

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MANCHESTER UNITED-REAL SOCIEDAD PREVIEW

                                                          

            

    

  

MANCHESTER UNITED- REAL SOCIEDAD PREVIEW…TIME FOR REDEMPTION FOR BOTH SIDES. PRIDE AT STAKE

David Moyes seems to have run out of ideas. In actual fact, majority of Manchester United fans are perplexed by what they are witnessing this season. The red army lie in a distant 8^th position in the League- 8 hefty points behind early front runners, Arsenal and what’s more painful is that the managers substitutions have been borderline idiotic and clueless. The new man at the helm lacks the tactical know how to change a game as recent results have shown. If not for Adnan Januzaj, maybe relegation would have been the case with eight matches already played.

On Saturday, with United leading 1-0 and aiming to put the game beyond the reach of Le Sheriff’s Saints, Moyes pulled off one of the most shocking decisions the OT faithful have ever witnessed- Taking out the tired and under performing Wayne Rooney for Smalling, when Kagawa and Chicharito were waiting to be called upon. The puzzling part of the whole bewildering drama is that neither Wazza nor RVP performed well and he couldn’t muster the courage to take out one or both of them. It was terrible. Now any team coming to the Theatre is confident of at least leaving with a point. A far cry from the Fergie days. Although the great man experienced some difficulties in his first five years as manager of the 13-time EPL Champions.

The Champions League has represented a brief relief from the blunders of domestic action. Tonight, Carlos Vela’s Real Sociedad visit Manchester with the hope that they can spring yet another surprise. Very likely that they can. It was another Basque side that destroyed the red devils in the Europa League last year. Marcelo Bielsa’s Bilbao came, saw and ruthlessly demolished SAF’s men with what Moyes has called one of the most outstanding away performances he has ever seen. Iker Muniain, Ander Herrera and company tore their hosts a new one and went on to complete the demolition job at San Mames.

But things are a bit different now. That was the Europa League and the opponents were high on confidence. Today’s match up pitches two struggling teams against each other with one’s fortunes slightly better than the other’s. Manchester United might have demons to bury in the League, but in Europe, they jointly sit atop their group alongside Mircea Lucescu’s Shakhtar on four points from two games played. Victory today for them might spell the end of any hopes the Anoeta side have of progressing from the group.

Since putting Lyon to the sword in the playoffs, Sociedad have fallen apart, only claiming one victory at the Mestalla. Shakhtar dismantled them in game one and Leverkusen saw off their resistance last time out in Germany. Coming to Old Trafford now might be the best thing for them as they can capitalize on the poor form of their opponents tonight.

Sir Alex Ferguson chose to launch his book on the eve of a very important match for a team he managed for 27 years, revealing some very astonishing details of his reign which has not gone down well with some of his soldiers. It seems the great Scot can have everything his way. The timing is not perfect, but what has happened has indeed happened. Focus is key for members of the current squad, including the beleaguered Wayne Rooney who expected to be lambasted by his former boss. He might charge him for libel. Who knows? Patrice Evra has also been in the news all week after he tongue lashed Les Blues Legends, Bixente Lizarazu and Luis Fernandez for constant criticisms of him. He went further to drop the bombshell that he is bidding farewell to his beloved club of the last seven years, at the end of the season. Good luck Monsieur

PROBABLE LINEUPS-

MANCHESTER UNITED-

DDG, Rafael, Jones, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Fellaini, TonyV, Kagawa/Januzaj, Rooney, RVP

REAL SOCIEDAD-

Bravo, C.Martinez, Gonzalez, I.Martinez, De la Bella, M.Pardo, Bergara, Prieto, Griezmann, Vela, Seferovic

For Manchester United, it is likely that Adnan Januzaj will play a part once again, After his jaw dropping displays in recent weeks, the club had no other option but to include him in the Champions League squad after previous omitting his name for what they termed as tactical reasons. All bullshit. Antonio Valencia should find a place in the Starting eleven after impressing in the first two games. Roo and Robin should partner in attack once again and the imposing Fellaini who has done nothing since his arrival, is set to fill one of the central midfield spots. Of course we know one name is ever present in United’s midfield. Rio and Vidic are major doubts for the game. Cleverley and Welbeck have a chance to feature.

The Basque club haven’t fared since dismantling Lyon in the qualification round and new manager, Jagoba Arrasate who was Montanier’s assistant last season, has found his predecessor’s boots too big to fill. A morale boosting win at the Mestalla should restore the confidence within the set-up. More pleasing for the Spanish club is the return to fitness of Captain, Xabi Prieto. Frenchman, Antoine Griezmann has opined that they are not in Manchester for sightseeing and Carlos Vela who credits RVP for his growth and development, has become a key player for the club. His goals last season played a huge part in qualification for this elite competition. They are without Esteban Granero (long term knee injury) and ILLARRA has since gone to Real Madrid.

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